Giro Donne 2013 under threat as race organiser steps down

Women’s cycling could be set to lose arguably the biggest stage race on its calendar in 2013 as the organiser of the last three editions of the Giro d’Italia Femminile - the Giro Donne - is stepping away, according to wielerrevue.nl. The ten day race, which is as close as the women’s peloton has to a Grand Tour, has been run since 1988 [although there was no race in 1991 or 1992 - ed], with the last two editions won by Marianne Vos.

The Giro Donne itself is owned by the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI), but the organisation is outsourced to an outside organisation. Sovico, Lombardy, based event organiser Epinike has run the race since 2010 - having signed a three year deal with the FCI to do so - but has decided not to apply for any further editions.

“We have had a positive experience, but we are now focusing on other things,” Epinike representative Sara Brambilla told Wieler Revue. “It was felt that there have been some beautiful Giros in recent years, but has been a bit hard for all the women to do.”

The race, which was not granted the new 2.HC status, introduced by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for the 2013 season [unlike the Exergy Tour, the Thüringen Rundfahrt and Giro della Toscana - ed] has not yet been cancelled however, and is due to take place between June 28th and July 7th next year. In order for the race to happen however, a new organiser must come forward.

Wieler Revue contacted RCS Sport, the organiser of the men’s Giro d’Italia, to ask if it would be interested in taking on the women’s race; the organisation, which also owns a number of big Classics, used to organise a women’s version of the Milano-Sanremo - the Primavera Rosa - but this ended in 2005.

RCS Sport confirmed however, that it would not be taking on the Giro Donne - or any other women’s race - at least for the present time.

“A re-entry into women’s cycling will not happen in the near future,” a spokesman confirmed. “If the Giro d’Italia brand would benefit from it then RCS Sport would definitely consider it; at this point, however, it is not a thought, and not a priority.”